TO: Campus Community
FR: Tramaine Austin-Dillon, Director of Institutional Equity and Belonging
Dear SSU Community,
The third annual Juneteenth Luncheon will take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center. A registration link will be shared later this month. Space is limited, so please complete your registration as soon as you receive the link.
As we prepare for this special event, Sonoma State University and the city of Rohnert Park invite you to help us recognize and celebrate Black leaders in our community.
We are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Juneteenth Freedom Award, which will honor two outstanding Black community members who have made a lasting impact in Rohnert Park through leadership, advocacy, and service. Since its inception, the Juneteenth Freedom Award has been presented to two inspiring SSU alumni: Kirstyne Lange, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Andre Bailey, Trustee Representative for Area 3, which includes Rohnert Park, Cotati, and South Santa Rosa.
Nominees should:
- Have made meaningful contributions to the community
- Embody the values of freedom, equity, and justice
- When submitting a nomination, you will be asked to describe:
- The nominee’s contributions to the community and any lasting impact
- Their leadership in promoting freedom, equality, and justice
- Challenges they have helped address, such as youth empowerment, education, or social justice
- What makes them uniquely deserving of this award
You may also include links to supporting documents, articles, or testimonials that showcase their work.
As Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” has demonstrated through her tireless advocacy, freedom is not only a moment in history. It is a movement that must be nurtured and carried forward by those committed to justice. Join us in celebrating the individuals who uplift and inspire our community. Your nomination helps continue that movement and ensures their impact is recognized.
Submit your nomination by Monday, May 19, 2025.